Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid running costs, insurance, warranty & tax
The latest Ford Kuga will be offered with a competitive warranty and a variety of servicing plans, which should help keep a lid on running costs
| Insurance groups | Warranty | Service interval | 2021/22 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-21 | 3yrs / 60,000 miles | 1yr /12,500 miles | From £803 / £1,606 |
An efficient hybrid drivetrain, reasonably low insurance groupings and a large dealer network keeping servicing costs competitive break the bank when it comes to everyday running costs. Those looking to run the Kuga plug-in hybrid as a company car will make the biggest savings. Its low CO2 emissions give it an appealing Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rating – potentially halving your bill versus the equivalent diesel. But if you don’t have the ability to charge the Kuga regularly, you’ll quickly spend the difference at the petrol pump.
Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid insurance group
Insurance groups for the Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid run from 19 for the entry-level Titanium model to 24 for the range-topping Vignale. That's quite reasonable compared to rivals such as the Vauxhall Grandland Hybrid (groups 24-32), but the Kia Niro PHEV will be even cheaper to cover, falling into groups 14 and 15.
Warranty
Every new Ford sold in the UK is protected by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. In addition, the Kuga comes with Ford Assistance for one year, providing breakdown assistance in the UK and Europe. That’s competitive, if not quite class-leading – many manufacturers offer a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, while others (like Kia) offer up to seven years. That said, owners looking to keep their Kuga longer might be interested in extending the standard warranty to either four years/80,000 miles or five years/100,000 miles.
Servicing
There’s nothing to suggest the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid will cost any more or less to service than one of the standard petrol or diesel models. In fact, given that this version uses the same 2.5-litre petrol engine set to debut in the non-plug-in hybrid later in 2020, it’s likely to need the same level of maintenance.
Ford hasn’t yet revealed service pricing for the new Kuga, but there'll probably be a pair of service plan options, as is the case with the rest of the range. The Ford Protect Service Plan offers scheduled servicing and covers all servicing in accordance with ‘Ford Standard Service Schedules’ including associated parts and labour. Higher-mileage drivers might be interested in the Ford Protect Service Plan Plus, which also includes a ‘wear and tear plan’ for items like the clutch, brake pads, wiper blades and bulbs.
Road tax
The Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, despite its low CO2 emissions, only qualifies for a £10 reduction in annual road tax (VED). That means £145 a year compared to £155 annually for conventional petrol or diesel models. Note that while no Kuga Plug-In Hybrid costs more than £40,000, adding a few options to high-spec versions may take the price beyond this threshold, which would result in a substantial VED payment of £480 a year the first five times the car is taxed, dropping back to £145 annually thereafter.
